When Sophie and I run into a familiar face in the dog park or on our favourite trail, we are often met with a comment like: "Oh I remember Sophie...she is so well trained!" or "I remember her because of that trick!" or "...because of those freckles!" And while I am glad that Sophie is bit of a memorable dog for all of these reasons, and while I will never forget these wonderful qualities of hers....this is not what I will remember the most when I think of her twenty years from now.
Through my photography, my writing and this blog I have documented all of our time together. Every adventure, every story, every emotion has been captured either with my camera or with my words. And I am so thankful for that...to be able to have this story of us for the rest of my life. I didn't think about recording moments with my first cat, Cosmo, so I only have one or two photos of our short, but important, time together and I often regret that. And while I know that I will read and re-read this blog when Sophie is gone, and will study every photograph I have ever taken of her....this is not what I will remember the most when I think of her twenty years from now.
I have often written about dog love....this wonderful, powerful thing that these amazing creatures can bring into your life and light up the world with. And as much as I appreciate Sophie showing me the power of dog love....that is also not what I will remember the most when I think of her twenty years from now. What I will remember the most is my love for her. I will remember how this tiny presence opened up a part of my heart in a unique and unexpected way. I will remember how my love for her changed the way I saw the world...how it changed me. My love for her will stay with me forever...and, beause of that, as long as I have breath in my lungs...she will be a dog remembered.
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21 comments:
We simply do not get enough time together with our beloved animals. But short as it is, it is so sweet, and leaves such wonderful memories.
She is beautiful. May you get to spend many years together.
Jen
Fr all my dogs, I remember the best parts. They joy they gave me, the times they comforted me, the times they bounced in excitement. Letting go was the hardest, but my love for them is still huge in my heart. It never gets crowded out...
You speak of things we don't want to face. I find that our love between our dog and ourselves is so spiritual that we are blessed to ever have had them at all. Your photos are so great.
Oh so hard to think that way. But so true. Our critters give us so much and there's much to remember.. always.
Glad to see you back on the blog.. stick around this time! :)
I also lost my most precious pet in February. She was feline, not canine, but she was so smart, so precious...and the best a cat could be. I wrote a lot about her, if you are interested, on my blog; there was a post 2/14, then the next post also, and also a post called "My cat can talk" back in the summer.
So I have been thinking the same things...I will always remember Storm. I know 20 years from now I will still remember her.
What a beautiful insight. Now our two are getting older we're enjoying spending more time with them. They live to a rythmn of life that is more natural and gentle and serves as a timely counterbalance.
It is never easy to lose a good friend..but it is the one thing that we must face when we first lay eyes on a much awaited puppy. We are going to outlive them. I am sorry for your friends losses..
Sophie is looking great! I love the photo of her tail in the air..I suspect that she is as expressive with her tail as someone else I know! Waving it like a flag!
I hope you are having a good winter Andrea!! :)
Amen.
I firmly believe in two truths:
1. Animals are the superior race
and
2. Our animal companions are angels wrapped in fur.
Blessings,
Carolynn
Lovely first photo, your Sophie is so very photogenic. My Reba will be 9 this year, and I treasure the time I have with her. Tess, her daughter, is 3 1/2 and due to have puppies April 28. I've had dogs most of my life, and there is always something with each one that makes them stand out in my memory; and I loved them all.
Amen! My dog, and all of my beloved pets past, is my connection to my soul. She teaches me as much as I teach her. And loves me more.
I have been blessed to have 6 remarkable dogs in my life. Two of these six are still with us -- Tobey with my parents, and Zoey with my husband & I.
Zoey just turned one this week and although it's been a tumultuous year for many reasons, she has been a huge blessing. I don't think that I would have kept my sanity if it wasn't for my Schipperke baby. She's a strong willed girl and she'll try to boss us all around, but she's the most loving, funny dog I've known. It's only been just under a year that we've been together, but I already have so many memories of her - and one of the best is of her scent. She smells wonderful. I hope that I never ever forget how gorgeous she smells.
Due to this wonderful post, I am keeping my camera close so I can capture the loves-2 kitties and a newbie dog-in our lives. I too will remember the way they changed my heart but I will also remember the spirit of having so much, yet being aware of only the moment.
Beautiful post and it goes right to the heart of what it means to have a beloved pet. The way they reach inside and open the heart to a truly unconditional love changes lives and households. I know ours have.
As beautifully written as Sophie is to see.
Your camera does a wonderful job of capturing the joyful intelligence in Sophie's eyes. When the time comes, I know your love will sustain you.
As I hope mine will for my own dog.
such a beautiful post, andrea
Sophie is a georgeous girl, you will have some wonderful memories through this blog, but you've got a lot more blogging about her to do yet.
Oh Andrea,What a beautiful, beautiful post!
I was looking at my Willow cat the other day, and feeling blessed that someday, when all I have are memories, I'll be able to smile and laugh because of what we've shared together.
I've had cats all my life, and each and every one of them - those with me, and those who have left me behind- are remembered with joy... and have left me feeling blessed beyond measure.
Thank you so much Andrea for remembering Starsky in your blog. She lived life to the fullest and was a great girl who is sorely missed by Graeme, myself, the rest of our family and really missed by Oban. She was his "best girl".
Rest In Peace Starsky... We'll see you at the Rainbow Bridge.
i've gone through two significant losses in my pack ... but i know the one that will hit me the hardest is my girl matea. i learned with my first guy -- lost a 4 yrs of age to vaccine-induced lymphoma -- the importance of photos. he is the reason for scruffy dog photography.
still, we can't live without them, can we? it's absolutely vital to document their lives and their profound affect on us through photos and writing. you're doing well.
I have one of those memorable dogs in my life, but only a few pictures and no writings.
You're right; you'll treasure this blog in days to come.
Do you realize how precious your words are to read and how wonderful your photography is to others and what a gift it is to share your tender heart?
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